random orbital buffer? safe?

[Justdiscovering]

Today I bought a wenn random orbital buffer from the goodwill for 6 dollars, is it safe enough to use for a first timer like me? Or should I have went to mcdonalds with my 6 dollars and got lunch?

PS. I would post this on the car care forum but no body really goes on there..

[ScooterL]

You should have no problem using that thing. Just start with a medium to light polish (not compound) and work small areas.


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[Justdiscovering]

What polish do you reccomend?

[ElCamryno]

Originally Posted by Justdiscovering

What polish do you reccomend?

For something real light, start with Farecla G10. Go to their site to get the part # for the right buff pad. That stuff's just your basic swirl remover. If it doesn't do the trick, move to a rougher compound. Just don't wreck your clear!

[Mag Grey Toy]

just dont stay on one spot for too long or youll burn thru the clear coat. other than that your good as long as your pads are clean

[Justdiscovering]

what should the motion be?

[Glenn8963]

Originally Posted by Justdiscovering

Today I bought a wenn random orbital buffer from the goodwill for 6 dollars, is it safe enough to use for a first timer like me? Or should I have went to mcdonalds with my 6 dollars and got lunch?

PS. I would post this on the car care forum but no body really goes on there..

Originally Posted by Justdiscovering

what should the motion be?

that's a good price, and it may last you a very long time. i only use mine AFTER i have applied and buffed the wax all by hand. i use my buffer as a "final" buffing.

i use a circular motion, then i go straight lines, no matter how i do it, i always overlap.

DO NOT press down on the buffer. the weight of the buffer alone is ENOUGH for it to work. as mentioned however, so do not press down.

make sure you buy the correct buffing pads, one should last you a very long time, if all you do is buff with it. once you start using the buffer to apply then take off the wax, you need to clean it, and that takes the life away from the pads. mine i have right now are about 10 years old..!! still as new as day number one..

good luck, take your time, go slow, do not press down, be careful of the cord....

[Justdiscovering]

you guys are wonderful!!

[sixsix]

Originally Posted by Mag Grey Toy

just dont stay on one spot for too long or youll burn thru the clear coat. other than that your good as long as your pads are clean

Not with an orbital buffer...the more pressure you apply the less the pad will move. If you press to hard it'll just stop. It doesn't spin...it randomly orbits, hence the name, so you really can't hurt any thing.

If you're new to waxing and using a buffer, your best bet is to start out with a "all in one" polish/wax, like the next tech stuff by meguires, or any of the other synthetic waxes that your local auto parts store should carry. I've been using the bottle of wax that came with the car just to get rid of it and I really like it. It goes on really eaisly and leaves no residue.

[eyezack87]

Um guys, you realize most of your advice is worthless if its one of the large RO's right? The giant ones were built for single stage paints, in which it was greatly effective. However, it fails on clearcoated paint polishing. In essence the big ones are at best used for wax removal. I seriously doubt he got a real machine for $6...

However, to the OP, can you post up the model and maybe a picture of the RO you purchased? We can then tell you for sure what it is actually good for other than throwing out advice that doesn't pertain to your machine

[aznlunatic206]

That $6 random orbital sounds like a joke until you can give us a make and model or picture of that orbital, and until then i wouldnt use it on any car ( probably the reason why it ended up at a goodwill).

[Justdiscovering]

[eyezack87]

Unfortunately, that was exactly as I was describing. Sorry OP

[Justdiscovering]

are you sure? The owner said he used it as polisher and told me how to use it. If its not can it be used as one still?

[sixsix]

You can wax your car with it...it won't get out swirl marks or anything like that, but you can still slap a coat of wax on with it. Better than doing it by hand.